Sinclair Consolidates Programming Functions

Sinclair Broadcast Group on Monday said it has named Arthur Hasson COO, Sinclair Programming, in charge of all the station group’s programming.

Bill Butler, VP of programming and promotion, becomes SVP of promotion and corporate marketing in the reorganization.

Hasson will report to the Co-COOs of Sinclair Television Group, with Tammy Dupuy and David Howitt, VPs of programming, reporting to Hasson.

“I am excited by the possibilities our rapid growth has given us,” said Hasson. “Our significant scale and reach on all screens is a major advantage in program development and planning; one that yields real benefits to our audience and shareholders.”

“Bill will expand our efforts to focus and amplify the marketing of Sinclair Broadcast Group to the industry, expanding news efforts and our public agency constituencies,” said David Amy, EVP-COO of Sinclair Broadcast Group, to whom Butler will report. In addition, he will continue the management and implementation of station audience promotion and advertising for which he will report to the co-COOs of Sinclair Television Group.

Hasson joined Sinclair in November 2012 and most recently was COO of Sinclair Original Programming and has been in charge of new program development for Sinclair stations. Prior to that, he was GM of Sinclair’s CBS and MNT affiliates in Harrisburg, Pa., and had oversight for WLYH (CW) in that same market pursuant to a local marketing agreement since 2012.

Butler joined Sinclair in February 1997 as VP of programming with supervision of promotion added in 1999. During  Butler’s more than 18 years of service, he has been responsible for negotiating and programming Sinclair’s stations.